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-You gonna be a movie star
one of these days?
2
00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,290
-Well, we're making
a lot of plans on it.
3
00:00:08,290 --> 00:00:11,160
I hope so. I hope I'll be able
to do my life story.
4
00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,160
-I think the James Brown story
5
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,200
has got to be one of
the biggest winners of all time.
6
00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,500
♪ Everybody right there
-♪ Get into it
7
00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,620
-♪ Everybody right there
-♪ Get involved
8
00:00:19,620 --> 00:00:21,700
-♪ Everybody hit it
[ Music plays ]
9
00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:23,660
Come on, now.
10
00:00:23,660 --> 00:00:25,000
Good God.
11
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-Nobody expected James
to be anything.
12
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-Come on! Hey!
13
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-Abandoned at birth, prison,
dropping out of school.
14
00:00:33,540 --> 00:00:37,040
There's a level of genius there
that is amazing.
15
00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:38,370
-♪ Now, look
-♪ Hey
16
00:00:38,370 --> 00:00:40,790
-♪ I want you to hit me
-♪ Yeah
17
00:00:40,790 --> 00:00:43,040
-♪ Fellas
-♪ Yeah
18
00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,250
-♪ Don't miss me
-♪ No
19
00:00:45,250 --> 00:00:48,200
-People don't talk enough
about James for his writing
20
00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:49,620
and producing skills.
21
00:00:49,620 --> 00:00:51,330
He was an entrepreneur.
22
00:00:51,330 --> 00:00:53,500
-I mean, he changed
the way music was.
23
00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:54,870
He created funk.
24
00:00:54,870 --> 00:00:56,080
-♪ Hit me
25
00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,200
-He was a risk-taker.
26
00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,910
He gave you sex and protest
at the same time.
27
00:01:01,910 --> 00:01:03,910
-♪ Soul power
-♪ Soul power
28
00:01:03,910 --> 00:01:05,830
-♪ Soul power
-♪ Soul power
29
00:01:05,830 --> 00:01:07,080
-We need black people
30
00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:08,410
in the power structure
to speak for us.
31
00:01:08,410 --> 00:01:10,120
-♪ Soul power
-♪ Hit me
32
00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:11,950
-James Brown "Say It Loud --
I'm Black and I'm Proud"
33
00:01:11,950 --> 00:01:13,620
was the jump-off point.
34
00:01:13,620 --> 00:01:16,500
-The power to move people,
to mobilize people,
35
00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:18,790
to make them feel and think
about what's happening,
36
00:01:18,790 --> 00:01:22,160
James Brown was able to do that.
37
00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,160
-♪ Put it there
38
00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,290
-You really couldn't
voice your opinion
39
00:01:26,290 --> 00:01:28,250
a lot of times with Mr. Brown.
40
00:01:28,250 --> 00:01:31,200
A lot of things
that Mr. Brown would do,
41
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,410
sometimes I didn't
agree with him.
42
00:01:34,410 --> 00:01:37,330
-Black folks had the right
to be angry at him
43
00:01:37,330 --> 00:01:40,910
for aligning himself with a
politician like Richard Nixon.
44
00:01:40,910 --> 00:01:45,080
♪
45
00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,790
[ Cheers and applause ]
46
00:01:47,790 --> 00:01:51,200
-We all got our problems and
we're going to work them out.
47
00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,160
-"I Feel Good." That was done
in a movie, wasn't it?
48
00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,620
-Yes, we did "Ski Party
along with Frankie Avalon,
49
00:01:58,620 --> 00:02:00,200
Yvonne Craig.
50
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,870
♪ Wow, I feel good
51
00:02:03,870 --> 00:02:06,910
♪ I knew that I would, now
52
00:02:06,910 --> 00:02:09,250
♪ I feel good
53
00:02:09,250 --> 00:02:11,950
♪ I knew that I would, now
54
00:02:11,950 --> 00:02:13,620
♪ So good
55
00:02:13,620 --> 00:02:17,120
♪ So good, I got you
56
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,080
-His music was
incredibly important
57
00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,040
to our community, to our people.
58
00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,250
His journey
is incredibly important.
59
00:02:23,250 --> 00:02:25,620
There might be places
where he stopped in his journey
60
00:02:25,620 --> 00:02:28,080
that you don't agree with,
but it was a journey.
61
00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,500
The development and relationship
of our folks
62
00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,370
and this country's development,
63
00:02:32,370 --> 00:02:34,750
James Brown was
an integral part of that.
64
00:02:34,750 --> 00:02:36,910
-♪ In my arms
65
00:02:36,910 --> 00:02:39,790
♪ I know that
I can do no wrong ♪
66
00:02:39,790 --> 00:02:42,080
The first time I cut "I Feel
Good," it was strictly jazz.
67
00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,200
I had to go back and cut it
again so people could follow it.
68
00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,290
♪ Dun-a dun-a dun-a dun
69
00:02:46,290 --> 00:02:50,080
-"I Feel Good" is basically
a blues progression.
70
00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,330
James took the chord changes
out of it,
71
00:02:53,330 --> 00:02:56,830
and it was just a groove,
and that groove locked in.
72
00:02:56,830 --> 00:02:58,410
-♪ So good
73
00:02:58,410 --> 00:03:01,370
-When we loop a sample nowadays,
74
00:03:01,370 --> 00:03:03,370
James Brown was
sort of doing that,
75
00:03:03,370 --> 00:03:05,160
and that in itself
was different.
76
00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,910
-♪ So good
77
00:03:07,910 --> 00:03:11,200
[ Applause ]
78
00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:12,950
♪ Papa's in the swing
79
00:03:12,950 --> 00:03:14,500
[ Both laugh ]
80
00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:16,700
-There's something about it.
I don't know.
81
00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:18,660
Alright. Easy does it.
82
00:03:18,660 --> 00:03:20,700
Now, what was the story?
Why'd you make that record?
83
00:03:20,700 --> 00:03:24,040
-Well, during that time,
I needed a hit record very bad.
84
00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,620
And the only thing I said,
I said,
85
00:03:26,620 --> 00:03:29,250
"Well, you know, papa should
get a brand-new bag, you know,
86
00:03:29,250 --> 00:03:31,160
and listen, we got to
come up with a title."
87
00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,120
And then I started writing,
you know,
88
00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,160
and got a little story together,
and -- and it was together.
89
00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,160
♪ Come here, sister
90
00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,700
♪
91
00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:43,200
♪ In the swing
92
00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,290
-"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
comes out.
93
00:03:45,290 --> 00:03:46,790
That's street slang.
94
00:03:46,790 --> 00:03:50,000
People are like, "Yeah,
I know what this is."
95
00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,250
-♪ He ain't no drag
96
00:03:53,250 --> 00:03:55,580
♪ Papa's got a brand-new bag
97
00:03:55,580 --> 00:03:57,540
♪
98
00:03:57,540 --> 00:03:59,620
-With "Papa's Got
a Brand New Bag,"
99
00:03:59,620 --> 00:04:03,040
as an 11th-hour decision,
they sped the tape up
100
00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:04,870
to make it
just a little bit faster.
101
00:04:04,870 --> 00:04:06,040
-♪ Come on, now
102
00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:07,700
♪ On the horn
103
00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:10,830
-He's realizing that him
and his horn section
104
00:04:10,830 --> 00:04:12,660
are the new Famous Flames.
105
00:04:12,660 --> 00:04:17,790
Like, his entire horn section
answering him at his every whim.
106
00:04:17,790 --> 00:04:20,450
♪ Come on, come on
107
00:04:20,450 --> 00:04:23,790
-You listen to the spontaneity
of his vocals,
108
00:04:23,790 --> 00:04:27,540
and that includes his screams
and his grunts and his groans
109
00:04:27,540 --> 00:04:29,500
and all the things
that people mimic
110
00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:32,500
that are -- that are part
of his identity.
111
00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:34,910
He's using his voice.
He's playing an instrument.
112
00:04:34,910 --> 00:04:36,450
He's one of the band.
113
00:04:36,450 --> 00:04:39,500
-See, soul music is jazz
and -- and gospel mix.
114
00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:42,830
Funk is when
you lay on the vamp.
115
00:04:42,830 --> 00:04:47,910
♪
116
00:04:47,910 --> 00:04:49,080
♪ With your mess
117
00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,120
-He's basically announcing
118
00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,620
that he's
the aforementioned Papa,
119
00:04:53,620 --> 00:04:58,120
and his brand-new bag
is this level of soul.
120
00:04:58,120 --> 00:04:59,870
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
121
00:04:59,870 --> 00:05:04,750
will start the unprecedented
streak of top 10 hits
122
00:05:04,750 --> 00:05:07,700
for the next 10 years
of James Brown's life.
123
00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:10,540
-Soul is real.
You can't make that up.
124
00:05:10,540 --> 00:05:12,120
You either got it
or you don't have it.
125
00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,450
♪
126
00:05:15,450 --> 00:05:19,080
-There was the Motown sound,
the Memphis sound,
127
00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:20,620
the Muscle Shoals sound.
128
00:05:20,620 --> 00:05:23,120
Then there was
the James Brown sound.
129
00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,370
It didn't have
a geographic identity.
130
00:05:26,370 --> 00:05:30,250
It had the identity
of a single human being.
131
00:05:30,250 --> 00:05:34,830
-The Motown sound and imagery
was very carefully curated,
132
00:05:34,830 --> 00:05:38,540
and it was really a response
to what we call the white gaze,
133
00:05:38,540 --> 00:05:42,370
the lens in which
white supremacy
134
00:05:42,370 --> 00:05:44,790
is viewing the rest
of the world.
135
00:05:44,790 --> 00:05:47,290
So it's through that lens
that Motown said,
136
00:05:47,290 --> 00:05:50,370
"We want to promote
these positive,
137
00:05:50,370 --> 00:05:53,950
respectable images
of black people."
138
00:05:53,950 --> 00:05:56,200
♪
139
00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,200
Mr. Brown also
very well put together,
140
00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:00,370
a perfectionist.
141
00:06:00,370 --> 00:06:02,450
He was curated in his own way.
142
00:06:02,450 --> 00:06:04,540
Wasn't a company behind him
143
00:06:04,540 --> 00:06:06,540
saying, "You need to dress
like this and do this."
144
00:06:06,540 --> 00:06:08,540
He was doing that himself.
145
00:06:08,540 --> 00:06:12,000
-♪ I'm alright tonight
146
00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,120
♪ And I'll do just what I want
147
00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:16,750
I might get on the stage
148
00:06:16,750 --> 00:06:18,580
and normally having to do
an hour and a half.
149
00:06:18,580 --> 00:06:20,580
♪ And do the James Brown
150
00:06:20,580 --> 00:06:23,540
♪ Oh, ohhh, yeah
151
00:06:23,540 --> 00:06:25,870
I may do two hours
and 20 or 30 minutes,
152
00:06:25,870 --> 00:06:27,620
may do an hour extra.
153
00:06:27,620 --> 00:06:31,200
I enjoy what I'm doing and I
enjoy seeing them enjoy it.
154
00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:32,870
-He believed in perfection
155
00:06:32,870 --> 00:06:35,540
and that the audience
should get what they paid for.
156
00:06:35,540 --> 00:06:37,870
He was willing to do
whatever it took
157
00:06:37,870 --> 00:06:40,540
to make sure that
the perfection was there.
158
00:06:40,540 --> 00:06:43,870
He demanded it and he got it.
159
00:06:43,870 --> 00:06:45,080
-♪ Oh
160
00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,040
-My daddy was very strict.
161
00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,370
He came from a life of struggle.
162
00:06:50,370 --> 00:06:54,120
He knew each time
he did his show
163
00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:58,540
that everything had to be right
before he got to the stage --
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00:06:58,540 --> 00:07:01,000
people on time,
dressed like they should,
165
00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,040
sound people are where
they supposed to be,
166
00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:04,660
equipment, everything.
167
00:07:04,660 --> 00:07:06,540
-What kind of things
would you have to do to get,
168
00:07:06,540 --> 00:07:08,950
like a $5 or $10 fine in a show?
169
00:07:08,950 --> 00:07:12,540
-Missing notes delivered
and not paying attention.
170
00:07:12,540 --> 00:07:14,120
I demand discipline.
171
00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,160
♪
172
00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,370
♪ If I ruled the world
173
00:07:19,370 --> 00:07:22,040
[ Crowd shouting ]
174
00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,870
-I got fined $50 one time
for one note.
175
00:07:25,870 --> 00:07:28,370
We was playing
"If I Ruled the World,"
176
00:07:28,370 --> 00:07:31,450
and I almost missed
the note, but --
177
00:07:31,450 --> 00:07:34,160
and I just kind of slid into it.
178
00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:35,700
You know what I mean?
179
00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:37,580
You know,
it wasn't a train wreck,
180
00:07:37,580 --> 00:07:40,870
but it was a little rough,
and for that time, I got $50.
181
00:07:40,870 --> 00:07:43,370
I said, "What did I do?"
"You know what you did.
182
00:07:43,370 --> 00:07:46,830
You missed a note."
I said, "One note?"
183
00:07:46,830 --> 00:07:49,540
-If there were too many
mistakes on the stage,
184
00:07:49,540 --> 00:07:51,040
you know,
during the performance,
185
00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,200
we had to rehearse right there
after the show.
186
00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:55,450
He didn't care.
187
00:07:55,450 --> 00:07:57,200
-He hated wrong notes.
188
00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,040
That's when he would yell,
you know,
189
00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,370
and he had to be in control.
190
00:08:02,370 --> 00:08:04,700
We lost a lot of people
behind that.
191
00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:07,120
-This whole band-leader thing
that he had,
192
00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:08,580
that's from another era.
193
00:08:08,580 --> 00:08:10,250
You hit a bum note,
you got fined.
194
00:08:10,250 --> 00:08:12,370
You know, if you turned up
with your shoes not clean,
195
00:08:12,370 --> 00:08:13,830
you were fined.
196
00:08:13,830 --> 00:08:16,250
The complete antithesis
of a rock band.
197
00:08:16,250 --> 00:08:18,000
It's not like a rock band.
198
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,040
Rock band is late,
rock band is dirty,
199
00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:24,410
rock band is not dressing right,
and they play bum notes.
200
00:08:24,410 --> 00:08:28,040
-♪ Told me, darling,
that you had to go ♪
201
00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,000
♪ Done take your money,
I don't care no more ♪
202
00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,950
-I could read his eyes.
It was like, "I heard that."
203
00:08:34,950 --> 00:08:38,040
And I think that Mr. Brown
could hear every instrument,
204
00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,000
every voice that was
singing behind him.
205
00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,790
He just knew
who would make a mistake.
206
00:08:43,790 --> 00:08:46,540
♪
207
00:08:46,540 --> 00:08:50,750
-Style and presence
was very important to Dad.
208
00:08:50,750 --> 00:08:53,700
-He had a valet that brought
his clothes to him.
209
00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:57,500
The valet held the -- the pants
out for him, you know,
210
00:08:57,500 --> 00:08:58,790
and he'd talk to me.
211
00:08:58,790 --> 00:09:00,540
The valet's still
holding the pants.
212
00:09:00,540 --> 00:09:02,330
I'm going, "When is he
going to take the --
213
00:09:02,330 --> 00:09:04,540
When is he going to
take the pants from the valet?"
214
00:09:04,540 --> 00:09:06,620
Poor guy's got his pants.
215
00:09:06,620 --> 00:09:08,790
-All the uniforms
right now that my band has,
216
00:09:08,790 --> 00:09:10,870
I own them, because
I want them to look decent.
217
00:09:10,870 --> 00:09:14,700
They should be glad to put on a
uniform and belong to something,
218
00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:17,080
as opposed to
belonging to nothing.
219
00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:21,580
-He established
some rules for himself,
220
00:09:21,580 --> 00:09:24,370
and he wanted the people
around him to live by also.
221
00:09:24,370 --> 00:09:27,330
-He strove for perfection.
222
00:09:27,330 --> 00:09:29,080
He's a child of the South,
as well,
223
00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:33,790
so he understood what it was
to have his image out there,
224
00:09:33,790 --> 00:09:35,620
what it was to perform.
225
00:09:35,620 --> 00:09:39,290
He had to project
that image of being perfect.
226
00:09:39,290 --> 00:09:41,160
-Difficult is all relative.
227
00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,450
Exacting and having standards,
you know.
228
00:09:43,450 --> 00:09:46,620
You know, if somebody's a little
lazy or wants to slack off
229
00:09:46,620 --> 00:09:49,040
or really wants to fall asleep
in the getaway car,
230
00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,870
they're going to think you're
exacting and you're difficult.
231
00:09:51,870 --> 00:09:53,830
-He knew what his mission was,
232
00:09:53,830 --> 00:09:56,410
and that was to show
the world that,
233
00:09:56,410 --> 00:09:58,660
"Look, I'm on this
playing field, too.
234
00:09:58,660 --> 00:09:58,700
"Look, I'm on this
playing field, too.
235
00:09:59,910 --> 00:10:02,830
I'mma show you why I am
the king of this thing."
236
00:10:02,830 --> 00:10:06,660
-My energy is so strong
and my presence is so strong.
237
00:10:06,660 --> 00:10:08,700
I can stay up for 72 hours
and still go do a show.
238
00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:15,700
-There just was no way,
you know,
239
00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:17,410
for me to dream of, uh,
becoming anything
240
00:10:17,410 --> 00:10:21,450
but trying to be just a laborer
trying to work, you know.
241
00:10:21,450 --> 00:10:26,040
Wasn't a chance for me to
imagine nothing too fantastic.
242
00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:27,500
♪
243
00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:29,200
I think your spirit
kind of changes
244
00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,700
along with what environment
you're in.
245
00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:34,080
♪ This is a man's world
246
00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,370
♪
247
00:10:37,370 --> 00:10:42,410
-In the 1960s, you were
at these cross currents
248
00:10:42,410 --> 00:10:46,910
where folks wanted to show
that folks deserved equality.
249
00:10:46,910 --> 00:10:51,580
At the same time, recognize
some of the raw foundations
250
00:10:51,580 --> 00:10:56,040
of what made you as a people
and as a person.
251
00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:58,080
James Brown could tap into that.
252
00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:02,000
He had all the aspirations
of entertainer,
253
00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,120
and yet he had all
the qualifications
254
00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,580
of somebody that came from
the Jim Crow experience,
255
00:11:08,580 --> 00:11:11,370
and he was able
to combine all of that.
256
00:11:11,370 --> 00:11:12,700
-Meredith was the first Negro
257
00:11:12,700 --> 00:11:14,700
to desegregate
Ole Miss University
258
00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:16,080
four years ago.
259
00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,200
Today, Meredith
and his small party
260
00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,540
began their defiant walk
at the Mississippi state line
261
00:11:21,540 --> 00:11:22,950
to encourage
unregistered Negroes
262
00:11:22,950 --> 00:11:25,700
along the way
to qualify as voters.
263
00:11:25,700 --> 00:11:28,250
[ Gunshots,
indistinct shouting ]
264
00:11:28,250 --> 00:11:31,410
-James Meredith was shot
the second day of his walk,
265
00:11:31,410 --> 00:11:35,700
and the entire civil rights
apparatus stepped in
266
00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:39,120
to finish that march for him,
and Meredith survived.
267
00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,120
-The first thing James Brown did
that attracted any notoriety
268
00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,700
was his appearance
at Tougaloo College
269
00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:48,040
at the James Meredith rally.
270
00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,700
He was in the midst
of Stokely Carmichael.
271
00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:54,410
Dr. King, Dick Gregory,
Sammy Davis,
272
00:11:54,410 --> 00:11:56,870
and Marlon Brando was there.
273
00:11:56,870 --> 00:11:59,910
-The only reason
we're doing this this way,
274
00:11:59,910 --> 00:12:03,620
because James Brown
should be saved for last.
275
00:12:03,620 --> 00:12:07,080
He jumped on his own jet
and flew in.
276
00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:08,870
He's going to perform
for you tonight,
277
00:12:08,870 --> 00:12:10,950
then he's going back
to Cincinnati
278
00:12:10,950 --> 00:12:13,290
to perform for the folks
and take them the message.
279
00:12:13,290 --> 00:12:15,330
[ Cheers and applause ]
280
00:12:15,330 --> 00:12:18,290
-Black media were like,
"Okay, James Brown."
281
00:12:18,290 --> 00:12:22,870
Those of us who knew him
already knew where he stood.
282
00:12:22,870 --> 00:12:25,410
-Meeting with James Meredith
283
00:12:25,410 --> 00:12:29,700
galvanized James Brown's sense
of public service.
284
00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:31,660
-♪ Everybody
285
00:12:31,660 --> 00:12:33,700
♪
286
00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:36,910
♪ You might give out
287
00:12:36,910 --> 00:12:38,410
♪ But don't give up
288
00:12:38,410 --> 00:12:41,540
[ Crowd shouting ]
289
00:12:41,540 --> 00:12:44,910
-How one person
could change the world.
290
00:12:44,910 --> 00:12:47,870
And two weeks later,
his first message song,
291
00:12:47,870 --> 00:12:50,000
"Don't Be a Dropout,"
was recorded.
292
00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:51,790
-Hi. This is James Brown.
293
00:12:51,790 --> 00:12:54,080
This is kind of unusual way
to come into your home.
294
00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,870
This record is dedicated
to the kids in school
295
00:12:56,870 --> 00:12:58,200
and also the young adults
296
00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:59,910
that might be able
to go to night school.
297
00:12:59,910 --> 00:13:02,830
As a reminder,
don't be a dropout.
298
00:13:02,830 --> 00:13:04,200
-"Don't Be a Dropout"
299
00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,660
was talking to other kids
in the community
300
00:13:06,660 --> 00:13:09,000
that came up in communities
just like him.
301
00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:14,200
He knew that being educated
was a tool, a way out,
302
00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:18,450
a way to get on the same level
with the white man, so to speak.
303
00:13:18,450 --> 00:13:22,410
He really pushed
especially my sister and I
304
00:13:22,410 --> 00:13:25,290
to get as educated as we could.
305
00:13:25,290 --> 00:13:28,790
Got my doctorate in pharmacy,
and Dad was really proud.
306
00:13:28,790 --> 00:13:31,040
-I didn't get a chance
to get a formal education.
307
00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:32,700
I was trying to really survive.
308
00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:35,160
I got a doctor's degree
in the street.
309
00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,830
-James Brown went through
what a lot of young black males
310
00:13:38,830 --> 00:13:41,040
are going through, from gangs
311
00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,540
to being brought up
in very hostile situations.
312
00:13:43,540 --> 00:13:48,370
But to find his footing
and be able to sit on a stage
313
00:13:48,370 --> 00:13:50,250
and proudly hold his own,
314
00:13:50,250 --> 00:13:54,370
it's really more powerful
than we realize.
315
00:13:54,370 --> 00:13:56,700
-♪ Gotta, gotta listen
now, now ♪
316
00:13:56,700 --> 00:13:59,000
-♪ What he said
317
00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:00,410
-♪ Without an education
318
00:14:00,410 --> 00:14:01,830
-♪ Might as well be dead
319
00:14:01,830 --> 00:14:03,200
-♪ Stay in school
320
00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,080
-He was a genius,
and how he come up
321
00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,040
with his ideas was amazing.
322
00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,160
It could be
in the middle of the night.
323
00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,200
[ Telephone rings ]
He would call you.
324
00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,660
"Are you asleep?"
"Uh, well, no, not now."
325
00:14:14,660 --> 00:14:18,910
-He didn't go by any of
the classical rules of music,
326
00:14:18,910 --> 00:14:22,540
switching things
and putting chords together
327
00:14:22,540 --> 00:14:24,870
that were making musicians
turn their head and go,
328
00:14:24,870 --> 00:14:26,330
"What was that?"
329
00:14:26,330 --> 00:14:28,580
You know, minors,
the majors and the things.
330
00:14:28,580 --> 00:14:30,120
He was just doing stuff.
331
00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:35,580
♪
332
00:14:35,580 --> 00:14:38,750
-The laws of music were there
telling me not to do it,
333
00:14:38,750 --> 00:14:41,330
but I did it my way.
334
00:14:41,330 --> 00:14:44,160
-It wasn't the music
that we heard in the early '60s.
335
00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,290
It was what was to come,
336
00:14:46,290 --> 00:14:49,660
inspiring, like,
the next wave of funk,
337
00:14:49,660 --> 00:14:51,660
the George Clinton
and the Parliament Funkadelics
338
00:14:51,660 --> 00:14:53,910
of the world and the Sly and
the Family Stones of the world.
339
00:14:53,910 --> 00:14:57,450
-♪ I break out
340
00:14:57,450 --> 00:14:59,500
♪ In a cold sweat
341
00:14:59,500 --> 00:15:02,910
♪
342
00:15:02,910 --> 00:15:06,370
-"Cold Sweat" comes out in '67.
343
00:15:06,370 --> 00:15:09,750
Now there's this musical genius
coming into play.
344
00:15:09,750 --> 00:15:12,540
You got this real
jagged drumbeat
345
00:15:12,540 --> 00:15:15,660
which you had really never heard
in popular music before.
346
00:15:15,660 --> 00:15:16,910
-Let's give the drummer some.
347
00:15:16,910 --> 00:15:18,950
-James Brown was
the first person
348
00:15:18,950 --> 00:15:21,500
to let the drummer
really kind of get some...
349
00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:22,750
-Give the drummers some!
350
00:15:22,750 --> 00:15:26,370
-...and then ride it
and rock it.
351
00:15:26,370 --> 00:15:33,830
♪
352
00:15:33,830 --> 00:15:36,540
-I created funk.
God and me.
353
00:15:36,540 --> 00:15:41,120
-That "Cold Sweat" record
is literally the blueprint.
354
00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,330
-I loved "Cold Sweat."
355
00:15:43,330 --> 00:15:48,410
It was a testimony
in all its blackness,
356
00:15:48,410 --> 00:15:52,250
in all its sexuality,
in all its extravagance.
357
00:15:52,250 --> 00:15:54,870
-Soul music sensation
James Brown
358
00:15:54,870 --> 00:15:56,700
was recently banned
by the Parks Department
359
00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:59,660
from appearing at the Mosque
Amphitheater in Richmond.
360
00:15:59,660 --> 00:16:02,580
Authorities said that Brown
was likely to cause a problem
361
00:16:02,580 --> 00:16:05,580
by his habit of hugging and
kissing women in the audience.
362
00:16:05,580 --> 00:16:10,700
♪
363
00:16:10,700 --> 00:16:12,290
-My mother and my father met
364
00:16:12,290 --> 00:16:16,370
at Carr's Beach
in Annapolis, Maryland.
365
00:16:16,370 --> 00:16:21,370
My mom was sitting at the bar
talking to one of the Flames,
366
00:16:21,370 --> 00:16:25,660
and my dad walked past
and, you know, double take.
367
00:16:25,660 --> 00:16:28,370
-And he's like, "Is that you?"
368
00:16:28,370 --> 00:16:30,040
That's how people used to do it
back then.
369
00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:31,580
"Is that you?"
370
00:16:31,580 --> 00:16:33,200
-"Tell her to follow me."
371
00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,540
-♪ Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa
372
00:16:36,540 --> 00:16:39,370
♪ Men have named you
373
00:16:39,370 --> 00:16:42,250
-My mom is 14 years
younger than my dad.
374
00:16:42,250 --> 00:16:44,700
He was already
this big superstar,
375
00:16:44,700 --> 00:16:46,250
and he was coming to perform.
376
00:16:46,250 --> 00:16:47,910
-They exchanged numbers,
and she's like,
377
00:16:47,910 --> 00:16:49,540
"He's never gonna call."
378
00:16:49,540 --> 00:16:52,250
-February of 1968,
379
00:16:52,250 --> 00:16:55,620
my mother went to New York
to stay the weekend with Dad.
380
00:16:55,620 --> 00:16:58,000
You know, a little fun weekend.
381
00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,290
She never went back home.
382
00:17:00,290 --> 00:17:02,750
A month later, I was conceived,
383
00:17:02,750 --> 00:17:04,540
and it was only a few weeks
384
00:17:04,540 --> 00:17:06,330
before the assassination
of Martin Luther King Jr.
385
00:17:06,330 --> 00:17:09,410
before the assassination
of Martin Luther King Jr.
386
00:17:09,410 --> 00:17:11,620
-Mr. Martin Luther King,
he's dead.
387
00:17:11,620 --> 00:17:12,870
I don't know.
388
00:17:12,870 --> 00:17:14,500
I hope it don't cost
no more lives.
389
00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:16,790
I hope everybody can understand
what's happening now,
390
00:17:16,790 --> 00:17:18,370
because now is the time
to understand.
391
00:17:24,330 --> 00:17:25,290
-We all loved
Dr. Martin Luther King.
392
00:17:25,290 --> 00:17:27,290
I knowed him personally.
393
00:17:27,290 --> 00:17:30,040
And he was a fine man.
394
00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,660
♪ Nobody knows
395
00:17:32,660 --> 00:17:35,120
♪ When you leave me
396
00:17:35,120 --> 00:17:37,370
♪ It makes me cry
397
00:17:37,370 --> 00:17:39,040
♪
398
00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:43,330
♪ Ohhhh, oh
399
00:17:43,330 --> 00:17:47,200
-1968, the chaos of that year
400
00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,290
created a lot of damage,
destruction,
401
00:17:50,290 --> 00:17:52,370
and, in some cases, opportunity.
402
00:17:52,370 --> 00:17:55,250
James Brown found himself
403
00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:58,870
as the most popular
black entertainer
404
00:17:58,870 --> 00:18:01,330
with credibility
in the community.
405
00:18:01,330 --> 00:18:03,660
That was tested
when Martin Luther King
406
00:18:03,660 --> 00:18:06,330
was murdered on April 4th.
407
00:18:06,330 --> 00:18:10,080
-By April 5th,
many of the cities in America
408
00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,250
were blowing up with anger
and frustration
409
00:18:13,250 --> 00:18:17,370
that had peaked with
that gunshot in Memphis.
410
00:18:17,370 --> 00:18:20,910
-I was thinking about the day
when we filmed, um, at the park,
411
00:18:20,910 --> 00:18:22,620
standing there,
and I was looking out.
412
00:18:22,620 --> 00:18:25,250
I guess I'm real concerned
about people.
413
00:18:25,250 --> 00:18:27,040
I went from black America
414
00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:28,750
and I started talking
to white America,
415
00:18:28,750 --> 00:18:32,370
and I was saying, "These are
the things that has to be done."
416
00:18:32,370 --> 00:18:34,700
-A curfew is now in effect.
417
00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:38,160
Please keep off the streets.
418
00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:42,250
-Dad was already ready
to perform in Boston
419
00:18:42,250 --> 00:18:44,250
at the Boston Gardens
that night.
420
00:18:44,250 --> 00:18:46,200
-It was very questionable
421
00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,700
whether there should be
a concert on April 5th
422
00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:50,500
in Boston or anywhere else.
423
00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:53,410
Events all over the country
had been canceled.
424
00:18:53,410 --> 00:18:55,500
There were frantic phone calls
425
00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:59,450
between James Brown's people
and the mayor's office.
426
00:18:59,450 --> 00:19:02,370
It was decided,
somewhat reluctantly
427
00:19:02,370 --> 00:19:05,410
on the part of some
of the officials in Boston,
428
00:19:05,410 --> 00:19:09,830
that the show should continue,
but it should be televised.
429
00:19:09,830 --> 00:19:13,120
-While James was -- was happy
to be able to perform
430
00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:15,040
and have that impact on people,
431
00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,830
there were elements of,
"Wait a second.
432
00:19:17,830 --> 00:19:21,750
I didn't sign up for
a free TV broadcast of my show."
433
00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:24,450
-They wanted it to go on TV
434
00:19:24,450 --> 00:19:27,450
so that more people
would stay home,
435
00:19:27,450 --> 00:19:31,000
watch it on TV instead
of being out in the streets.
436
00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:38,040
-People were in their feelings,
ready to react on-camera, riot.
437
00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,120
-♪ Can't stand it
438
00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:43,000
♪ Can't stand your love
439
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,370
♪ Good God
440
00:19:44,370 --> 00:19:47,660
♪
441
00:19:47,660 --> 00:19:49,410
Wait a minute.
442
00:19:49,410 --> 00:19:51,950
Step away. Wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
443
00:19:51,950 --> 00:19:55,200
They alright. It's alright.
It's alright. It's alright.
444
00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:56,700
Let me finish the show --
Wait a minute.
445
00:19:56,700 --> 00:19:58,660
Let me finish the show
for everybody else, alright?
446
00:19:58,660 --> 00:20:00,830
Okay, let me finish it
for everybody else now.
447
00:20:00,830 --> 00:20:02,950
Okay? Hold on.
Let me finish the show now.
448
00:20:02,950 --> 00:20:04,370
Come on.
449
00:20:04,370 --> 00:20:06,040
Now, I asked the police
to step back
450
00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,290
because I figured I could get
some respect from my own people.
451
00:20:08,290 --> 00:20:11,330
[ Crowd cheering ]
452
00:20:11,330 --> 00:20:14,370
Hit them things.
453
00:20:14,370 --> 00:20:16,330
[ Song resumes ]
454
00:20:16,330 --> 00:20:18,580
-And he defused all of it.
455
00:20:18,580 --> 00:20:21,160
He basically broke up something
456
00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,870
that could have been
very catastrophic.
457
00:20:23,870 --> 00:20:25,750
-That was a big deal.
458
00:20:25,750 --> 00:20:28,250
And it saved Boston.
459
00:20:28,250 --> 00:20:30,580
There was no fighting
and no looting
460
00:20:30,580 --> 00:20:32,540
and all of that going on
like it was going on
461
00:20:32,540 --> 00:20:37,080
in the other major cities like
L.A. and Chicago and New York.
462
00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,200
In Boston,
everybody was in the groove.
463
00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:41,950
-♪ Sometimes I call
464
00:20:41,950 --> 00:20:43,870
♪ Sometimes I ring
465
00:20:43,870 --> 00:20:46,950
♪ Sometimes I ring so hard
466
00:20:46,950 --> 00:20:49,040
♪ Oh, can't stand it
467
00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,250
♪ Good God
468
00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:56,540
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah
469
00:20:56,540 --> 00:20:58,200
Oh!
470
00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,620
-The very fact that
white public officials
471
00:21:00,620 --> 00:21:04,290
asked Mr. Brown to speak
to some of these communities
472
00:21:04,290 --> 00:21:07,370
in the wake of the murder
of Martin Luther King,
473
00:21:07,370 --> 00:21:09,370
that was fraught
with contradiction.
474
00:21:09,370 --> 00:21:11,160
Mr. Brown had credibility.
475
00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:12,910
He could get people to cool out,
476
00:21:12,910 --> 00:21:16,370
understand that black power
meant building your community,
477
00:21:16,370 --> 00:21:18,330
not tearing it down.
478
00:21:18,330 --> 00:21:20,580
But at the same time,
there were whispers
479
00:21:20,580 --> 00:21:24,000
that, "You're operating
with the establishment."
480
00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,950
James Brown in 1968
481
00:21:25,950 --> 00:21:31,410
was looking for who he could
connect with that was in charge.
482
00:21:31,410 --> 00:21:33,040
-♪ So good
-♪ So good
483
00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,410
-Mellow.
[ Laughter ]
484
00:21:36,410 --> 00:21:40,080
-You just returned from Vietnam,
a USO tour.
485
00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,040
What did you find there?
486
00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:43,910
-It was hard.
487
00:21:43,910 --> 00:21:47,540
It was one of the hardest things
I've ever done.
488
00:21:47,540 --> 00:21:51,870
I find myself, in some
instances, fighting two wars.
489
00:21:51,870 --> 00:21:55,370
Uh, we have a war there.
490
00:21:55,370 --> 00:21:58,120
Well, three wars --
war against poverty
491
00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:01,580
and, uh, segregation
in certain parts.
492
00:22:01,580 --> 00:22:05,200
-James Brown's appeal
cut across class lines
493
00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:06,700
in the black community
494
00:22:06,700 --> 00:22:09,540
and across political lines
in the black community.
495
00:22:09,540 --> 00:22:13,500
So people that had
bourgeois aspirations,
496
00:22:13,500 --> 00:22:16,200
people that had
revolutionary aspirations,
497
00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:17,870
James Brown affected everyone.
498
00:22:17,870 --> 00:22:19,200
-♪ Unh
499
00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,160
♪ With your bad self
500
00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:22,950
♪ Say it loud
501
00:22:22,950 --> 00:22:25,750
♪
502
00:22:25,750 --> 00:22:27,450
♪ Some people say
we've got a lot of malice ♪
503
00:22:27,450 --> 00:22:29,660
♪ Some say it's a lot of nerve
504
00:22:29,660 --> 00:22:32,660
♪ But I say we won't quit moving
till we get what we deserve ♪
505
00:22:32,660 --> 00:22:35,500
-The Black Panthers
pressured James Brown.
506
00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:37,290
If you soul brother number one
507
00:22:37,290 --> 00:22:39,200
and you're the most
influential person
508
00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,750
in the black community
in terms of music,
509
00:22:41,750 --> 00:22:45,370
then you need to do something
that's a little more clear
510
00:22:45,370 --> 00:22:48,750
in standing for what
we're talking about.
511
00:22:48,750 --> 00:22:50,580
-♪ Say it loud
512
00:22:50,580 --> 00:22:52,660
♪
513
00:22:52,660 --> 00:22:55,040
-You're not gonna tell
James Brown what to do.
514
00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:58,790
But Stokely Carmichael told me,
Kwame Ture told me,
515
00:22:58,790 --> 00:23:01,870
he said, "Yo, we was on him
left and right, man.
516
00:23:01,870 --> 00:23:05,000
Yo, yo. What's up?
This is what's going down."
517
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,830
-I'm militant, but I'm militant
individually, you know?
518
00:23:08,830 --> 00:23:10,540
-To get ahead.
-That's right.
519
00:23:10,540 --> 00:23:14,580
I'll fight. I won't pull you
or some of my people in.
520
00:23:14,580 --> 00:23:17,160
If I figure that
I'm getting a raw deal,
521
00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:18,950
then I'll reassign myself.
522
00:23:18,950 --> 00:23:22,410
-That was his signal
to the black radical movement,
523
00:23:22,410 --> 00:23:24,120
"I'm down with y'all."
524
00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:25,660
-The black people in America
525
00:23:25,660 --> 00:23:27,660
wanted to be called
anything but black.
526
00:23:27,660 --> 00:23:29,120
So I said,
"I'm gonna write something
527
00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:31,370
that will take that stigma
out of their mind."
528
00:23:31,370 --> 00:23:32,580
♪ Say it loud
529
00:23:32,580 --> 00:23:34,000
-♪ I'm black and I'm proud
530
00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,250
-Aah!
531
00:23:35,250 --> 00:23:36,540
This is the things
that I can do,
532
00:23:36,540 --> 00:23:38,000
'cause people believe in me.
533
00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:39,540
-There was this notion
534
00:23:39,540 --> 00:23:44,000
that this term "black power"
was scary to people.
535
00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,700
And then you have a song.
536
00:23:45,700 --> 00:23:48,200
You have people being affirmed.
537
00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,040
-♪ Say it loud
538
00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:51,910
♪ I'm black and I'm proud
539
00:23:51,910 --> 00:23:55,870
-I was born in 1960, Chuck D,
Carlton Ridenhour, right?
540
00:23:55,870 --> 00:23:58,700
I got "Negro"
on my birth certificate.
541
00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:00,330
Born in Queens, New York.
542
00:24:00,330 --> 00:24:02,580
-"Say it loud,
I'm black and I'm proud."
543
00:24:02,580 --> 00:24:04,750
Overnight, from Negro to black.
544
00:24:04,750 --> 00:24:08,700
He changed our self-identity.
He changed the culture.
545
00:24:08,700 --> 00:24:10,370
And he changed
how white America looked at us,
546
00:24:10,370 --> 00:24:14,540
because it's different when your
chest is out and you're proud,
547
00:24:14,540 --> 00:24:16,540
'cause now you got to
handle me differently.
548
00:24:16,540 --> 00:24:18,950
I'm a black man. I've got to
take part in my cause.
549
00:24:18,950 --> 00:24:21,080
I got to take part
in my fight for freedom,
550
00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,540
for equality, and take a stand
where it's needed.
551
00:24:24,540 --> 00:24:27,450
-That song was dangerous,
aggressive, and political.
552
00:24:27,450 --> 00:24:29,040
But I'm 8 years old.
553
00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:31,870
How do I give a damn?
All I know, it's funky.
554
00:24:31,870 --> 00:24:33,750
I'm saying the word "black."
555
00:24:33,750 --> 00:24:35,750
And we ain't "colored" no more.
556
00:24:35,750 --> 00:24:37,870
-James Brown was willing
to go against
557
00:24:37,870 --> 00:24:40,910
all of the teachings
of Western civilization
558
00:24:40,910 --> 00:24:44,620
that demeans blackness
and valorizes whiteness,
559
00:24:44,620 --> 00:24:46,620
and to take the medium
that you're in
560
00:24:46,620 --> 00:24:48,750
and to turn that upside down,
561
00:24:48,750 --> 00:24:50,950
all of a sudden
everyone had permission
562
00:24:50,950 --> 00:24:53,660
because of James Brown,
because of that song.
563
00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:55,200
-"Say It Loud --
I'm Black and I'm Proud,"
564
00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,080
he was prophesying a future
that hadn't yet existed.
565
00:24:58,080 --> 00:24:58,500
he was prophesying a future
that hadn't yet existed.
566
00:24:59,250 --> 00:25:01,660
To start in this country
as (bleep)
567
00:25:01,660 --> 00:25:02,120
To start in this country
as (bleep)
568
00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,040
To start in this country
and then to be called colored,
569
00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,370
and then there was
a new way of thinking.
570
00:25:08,370 --> 00:25:11,950
-♪ I'm black and I'm proud
571
00:25:11,950 --> 00:25:12,250
-That's probably one of
the most bravest things
572
00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:15,080
-That's probably one of
the most bravest things
573
00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,910
and the most political thing
that James Brown has ever done.
574
00:25:19,910 --> 00:25:22,000
It's the original
Black Lives Matter.
575
00:25:27,660 --> 00:25:28,620
-As important as
"Say It Loud" was,
576
00:25:28,620 --> 00:25:30,080
the next record he made
577
00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,120
that had any specific reference
to politics
578
00:25:32,120 --> 00:25:35,410
was, "I don't want nobody
to give me nothing.
579
00:25:35,410 --> 00:25:38,160
Open up the door,
and I'll get it myself."
580
00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,540
-♪ I don't want nobody
to give me nothing ♪
581
00:25:41,540 --> 00:25:43,450
♪ Open up the door
582
00:25:43,450 --> 00:25:45,040
♪ I'll get it myself
583
00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:48,120
-He was the only one
who had the freedom
584
00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:52,000
and the common sense
to manage himself.
585
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,080
His manager, Ben Bart,
passed away in 1968.
586
00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,870
The head of King Records
passed away in 1968.
587
00:25:59,870 --> 00:26:02,500
James was in complete control
of himself.
588
00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:04,330
-♪ Don't give me integration
589
00:26:04,330 --> 00:26:06,410
♪ Give me true communication
590
00:26:06,410 --> 00:26:08,540
♪ Don't give me sorrow
591
00:26:08,540 --> 00:26:10,750
♪ I want equal opportunity
592
00:26:10,750 --> 00:26:12,500
♪ To live tomorrow
593
00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:13,870
♪ Give me schools
594
00:26:13,870 --> 00:26:15,700
-We're going to start
the press conference.
595
00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:20,700
And for your convenience,
we have prepared a proposal
596
00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:22,950
that sets forth all the details
and mechanics
597
00:26:22,950 --> 00:26:25,330
of the Black and Brown
Trading Stamp.
598
00:26:25,330 --> 00:26:27,700
-The James Brown
trading stamp idea
599
00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:30,540
was with Art Powell
of the Oakland Raiders.
600
00:26:30,540 --> 00:26:32,580
It was with Donald Warden,
601
00:26:32,580 --> 00:26:35,870
who had this whole
black nationalist organization.
602
00:26:35,870 --> 00:26:39,200
And in essence, you could pay
for some of your means
603
00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:43,700
with a currency that was
developed by your own people.
604
00:26:43,700 --> 00:26:45,830
-This is the idea
of us getting together,
605
00:26:45,830 --> 00:26:49,540
an idea of keeping the money
in the black community.
606
00:26:49,540 --> 00:26:52,500
-There were roughly 700
black-owned businesses.
607
00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,040
Customers could really
take these stamps
608
00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:55,660
and go redeem it
for a loaf of bread
609
00:26:55,660 --> 00:26:57,790
or a haircut or get gas.
610
00:26:57,790 --> 00:26:59,620
So one of the things
about those stamps
611
00:26:59,620 --> 00:27:02,040
is the community building,
black ownership,
612
00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,160
but also keeping wealth
in the community.
613
00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,200
-If we can keep
the turnover going,
614
00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:11,200
then we shall overcome,
only if we all come over.
615
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:12,830
-Yow!
616
00:27:12,830 --> 00:27:14,870
♪
617
00:27:14,870 --> 00:27:17,200
-Get your James Brown program.
618
00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:19,370
-Most people
in the black community
619
00:27:19,370 --> 00:27:22,290
believe in financial power,
620
00:27:22,290 --> 00:27:25,200
and James Brown does have
that financial power,
621
00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,700
from little babies
on up to the businessmen.
622
00:27:28,700 --> 00:27:33,290
-James Brown is
the original entrepreneur mogul.
623
00:27:33,290 --> 00:27:34,870
He got a private jet.
624
00:27:34,870 --> 00:27:37,750
There was nobody with
private jets that was black.
625
00:27:37,750 --> 00:27:42,370
Restaurants, 500 suits,
mansions,
626
00:27:42,370 --> 00:27:45,700
and on three radio stations.
627
00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:47,790
-This is Tony Scott
reporting Pulse Beat news
628
00:27:47,790 --> 00:27:51,120
from WRDW Augusta,
a James Brown station.
629
00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:53,830
♪
630
00:27:53,830 --> 00:27:56,200
-It wasn't just about the music.
631
00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:00,540
It was about, "What can I do
for my community
632
00:28:00,540 --> 00:28:03,200
and put in my community
to bring them up?"
633
00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,700
-James Brown was probably
at the peak of his popularity,
634
00:28:06,700 --> 00:28:08,200
certainly in black America.
635
00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,040
His influence was starting
to cross over
636
00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:14,330
because, you know, he had played
at Nixon's inauguration.
637
00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:19,580
-♪ Oh, yeah
638
00:28:19,580 --> 00:28:22,290
♪ You're kidding me
639
00:28:22,290 --> 00:28:23,580
♪ Alright
640
00:28:23,580 --> 00:28:25,120
♪ You're outta sight
641
00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:28,250
-For James Brown to sing
that song at the White House
642
00:28:28,250 --> 00:28:30,910
to affirm that black people
were a large part
643
00:28:30,910 --> 00:28:32,580
of the fabric of this country,
644
00:28:32,580 --> 00:28:34,870
he was really speaking
to them to show,
645
00:28:34,870 --> 00:28:37,120
like, "Now that we have Nixon
in the White House,
646
00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:38,660
we have to hold him
accountable,"
647
00:28:38,660 --> 00:28:41,200
and that was a brave thing
for him to do.
648
00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,910
-He never lost sight
of the fact
649
00:28:43,910 --> 00:28:46,370
that this ancillary role,
650
00:28:46,370 --> 00:28:49,950
as the spokesperson
for the black community,
651
00:28:49,950 --> 00:28:54,830
had a very delicate pro
and con on his business model.
652
00:28:54,830 --> 00:28:57,950
But by the same token,
it was like, "Okay,
653
00:28:57,950 --> 00:29:00,410
I'm going to make a song
called 'Mother Popcorn'
654
00:29:00,410 --> 00:29:02,620
and just get people to dance."
655
00:29:02,620 --> 00:29:04,410
-♪ I like 'em tall
656
00:29:04,410 --> 00:29:06,500
♪ I like 'em proud
657
00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:08,500
♪ And when they walk
658
00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:09,870
♪ You know they draw a crowd
659
00:29:09,870 --> 00:29:14,830
♪ See, you gotta
have a mutha for me ♪
660
00:29:14,830 --> 00:29:17,370
-"Mother "Popcorn" says "you got
to have a mutha for me",
661
00:29:17,370 --> 00:29:20,500
and "mother" meant a woman
with a substantial behind.
662
00:29:20,500 --> 00:29:22,330
[ Laughs ]
663
00:29:22,330 --> 00:29:25,830
-His treatment towards women,
the baggage that he brought,
664
00:29:25,830 --> 00:29:29,080
you know, is there ever
a context for that?
665
00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,870
We love to take
from our entertainers,
666
00:29:31,870 --> 00:29:34,700
and we love to take so much,
667
00:29:34,700 --> 00:29:38,290
we ignore the B-side
of the record.
668
00:29:38,290 --> 00:29:40,370
-There's a lot of people
who have asked me,
669
00:29:40,370 --> 00:29:42,540
"How could you have worked
for such a guy
670
00:29:42,540 --> 00:29:48,120
who was narcissistic and unfair
and mistreated his women?"
671
00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:52,000
He physically abused several of
the musicians in his band,
672
00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:57,540
background singers on tour, and
the women in his personal life.
673
00:29:57,540 --> 00:30:03,330
He could be sweet one day
and violent the next.
674
00:30:03,330 --> 00:30:06,160
-There's a lot
of contradictions going on
675
00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:07,700
with James Brown's life
right now
676
00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:09,540
and during this time period.
677
00:30:09,540 --> 00:30:12,290
Velma, James's wife,
divorces him
678
00:30:12,290 --> 00:30:17,370
because he gets Deedee pregnant
with Dee Brown, his daughter.
679
00:30:17,370 --> 00:30:22,000
To really complicate matters,
he's about to lose the best band
680
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,700
he's ever had in his life.
681
00:30:25,700 --> 00:30:28,620
-The band,
they wanted more money.
682
00:30:28,620 --> 00:30:30,750
They wanted separate rooms.
683
00:30:30,750 --> 00:30:30,790
They saw all that money.
They said,
684
00:30:31,750 --> 00:30:32,580
They saw all that money.
They said,
685
00:30:32,580 --> 00:30:34,700
"If you don't pay us tonight,"
686
00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:36,450
they said,
"We're going to walk."
687
00:30:36,450 --> 00:30:41,080
-James Brown calls his band's
bluff and they abruptly leave.
688
00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:48,040
-I try to build an image
of a black man to do anything,
689
00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,200
any major move on his own,
690
00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:51,410
and that's one of the reasons
I'm out here,
691
00:30:51,410 --> 00:30:54,000
because I try to prove every day
that a black man
692
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:58,950
can run a multi-million-dollar
operation.
693
00:30:58,950 --> 00:31:03,000
-We had some of the best
musicians in the world,
694
00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,450
but he had his own way
of doing things.
695
00:31:06,450 --> 00:31:09,040
-I had just turned 19.
696
00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:12,950
We did this gig at this
place called The Wine Bar,
697
00:31:12,950 --> 00:31:16,000
and the bartender said,
698
00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,750
"Bootsy,
Bobby Byrd's on the phone."
699
00:31:19,750 --> 00:31:22,370
And I'm like,
"No. No way.
700
00:31:22,370 --> 00:31:24,750
No way
Bobby Byrd on the phone."
701
00:31:24,750 --> 00:31:26,160
He's like, "Yeah, yeah."
702
00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:29,620
And I was like, "Bobby,
what's going on?"
703
00:31:29,620 --> 00:31:33,870
"Mr. Brown -- Mr. Brown want you
all to come down here and play."
704
00:31:33,870 --> 00:31:36,660
I'm like,
"He want us to what?"
705
00:31:36,660 --> 00:31:38,370
-One, two, three, four.
706
00:31:41,660 --> 00:31:43,370
Make them ones. Yeah.
707
00:31:43,370 --> 00:31:47,200
-Probably the most important
move in James Brown's career
708
00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:51,040
is bringing
in Bootsy Collins,
709
00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,370
his slightly older
brother, Catfish.
710
00:31:54,370 --> 00:31:57,870
-The song "Sex Machine"
came about on a bus.
711
00:31:57,870 --> 00:32:00,200
On the bus.
We were traveling down the road.
712
00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:01,790
-And make sure
you get that phrase
713
00:32:01,790 --> 00:32:03,080
because this is it, you know?
714
00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:04,660
-James and I was doing the song.
715
00:32:04,660 --> 00:32:09,450
Bootsy was there, and they
recorded the song with us.
716
00:32:09,450 --> 00:32:13,290
-Him and Bobby Byrd
sitting in the chairs here.
717
00:32:13,290 --> 00:32:16,200
Me and Catfish
right behind him.
718
00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:21,700
"Bobby. Right to Danny.
Get up! Right there.
719
00:32:21,700 --> 00:32:24,830
I feel like a sex machine."
720
00:32:24,830 --> 00:32:26,750
They started writing, alright?
721
00:32:26,750 --> 00:32:27,950
And "What kind of
what kind of groove
722
00:32:27,950 --> 00:32:29,830
you got there?
Somewhere around here."
723
00:32:29,830 --> 00:32:31,120
-One, two, three, four.
724
00:32:32,870 --> 00:32:34,700
♪ Get up,
get on up ♪
725
00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:36,700
♪ Get up, get on up
726
00:32:36,700 --> 00:32:38,700
♪ Stay on the scene,
get on up ♪
727
00:32:38,700 --> 00:32:40,700
♪ Like a sex machine,
get on up ♪
728
00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:42,500
-That was my brother's band,
729
00:32:42,500 --> 00:32:46,450
and all the rest of us was
the one that became The J.B.'s.
730
00:32:46,450 --> 00:32:48,370
-That band was probably
the most important
731
00:32:48,370 --> 00:32:52,080
because James Brown needed
that band more
732
00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,120
than that band needed
James Brown,
733
00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:56,950
even though that band
needed James Brown
734
00:32:56,950 --> 00:32:58,950
to start
their own careers.
735
00:32:58,950 --> 00:33:02,830
-Clyde Stubblefield,
Bootsy Catfish,
736
00:33:02,830 --> 00:33:05,120
Bobby Byrd, Fred Wesley.
737
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:08,790
That was the rhythm section
that defined funk.
738
00:33:08,790 --> 00:33:10,250
-♪ I got to, I got to
739
00:33:10,250 --> 00:33:12,160
♪ I said give me a place
to rest ♪
740
00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:14,450
♪ I said give me
a place to rest ♪
741
00:33:14,450 --> 00:33:16,290
♪ I said give me that,
give me that ♪
742
00:33:16,290 --> 00:33:19,540
-There's nothing like James
Brown interacting with the band.
743
00:33:19,540 --> 00:33:24,250
That's part of that whole
jazz/improvization thing
744
00:33:24,250 --> 00:33:27,250
that separates him
from his peers.
745
00:33:27,250 --> 00:33:28,540
-Hit it and quit it.
746
00:33:28,540 --> 00:33:32,500
♪
747
00:33:32,500 --> 00:33:35,370
[ Cheers and applause ]
748
00:33:35,370 --> 00:33:37,370
-If you got into James's band
749
00:33:37,370 --> 00:33:40,040
and you learn how to play like
James wanted you to play
750
00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:41,870
and you were precise,
751
00:33:41,870 --> 00:33:43,700
it could only make you better.
752
00:33:43,700 --> 00:33:47,750
Now, if you took those things
somewhere else as Bootsy did,
753
00:33:47,750 --> 00:33:50,080
you become
Bootsy the artist,
754
00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:52,330
you become
Parliament-Funkadelic.
755
00:33:52,330 --> 00:33:54,040
You become all of those things
756
00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:57,250
because that's what
you learn from James.
757
00:33:59,660 --> 00:34:01,080
-♪ Bring it up now
758
00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:03,500
-It's very rare
when you have someone
759
00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:06,790
who can be both
a pioneer and understand
760
00:34:06,790 --> 00:34:11,000
how to capture a business model
and monetize a business model
761
00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:12,540
that they pioneered.
762
00:34:12,540 --> 00:34:15,370
-♪ Fade it on out,
I'm gone ♪
763
00:34:15,370 --> 00:34:17,080
Luckily, I'm with the biggest
company in the world.
764
00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:18,700
I was their first artist,
765
00:34:18,700 --> 00:34:21,910
R&B Polydor,
and I thought it was a bad deal,
766
00:34:21,910 --> 00:34:24,080
and now it's the best thing
I've ever had in my life.
767
00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:25,410
-It actually speaks, I think,
768
00:34:25,410 --> 00:34:30,370
to the acumen of Polydor,
to sign James,
769
00:34:30,370 --> 00:34:33,500
which I think did wonderful
things for Polydor as a label.
770
00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:36,700
-People Records was
the James Brown label
771
00:34:36,700 --> 00:34:38,540
distributed by Polydor.
772
00:34:38,540 --> 00:34:43,580
So all of his artists
were put out on People Records.
773
00:34:43,580 --> 00:34:47,410
-♪ Yeah, whoo
774
00:34:47,410 --> 00:34:50,540
-♪ It takes two to make
a thing go right ♪
775
00:34:50,540 --> 00:34:52,080
-♪ Come on
776
00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:53,500
-♪ It takes two
to make it out of sight ♪
777
00:34:53,500 --> 00:34:56,370
-When you listen to the music
for, like,
778
00:34:56,370 --> 00:34:58,200
"Think",
for example, Lyn Collins,
779
00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:00,330
you hear the attitude on wax.
780
00:35:00,330 --> 00:35:03,200
You hear her yell,
just like James would yell.
781
00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:05,700
-James was totally prolific
as a producer.
782
00:35:05,700 --> 00:35:09,540
They would go in the studio
and just crank out grooves.
783
00:35:09,540 --> 00:35:13,830
-He believed that if you
worked hard, you'll be rewarded.
784
00:35:13,830 --> 00:35:15,700
He was a true capitalist.
785
00:35:16,750 --> 00:35:18,870
-♪ Ooh
786
00:35:18,870 --> 00:35:22,700
-James Brown was almost
a political figure in many ways.
787
00:35:22,700 --> 00:35:24,410
1960s and 1970s.
788
00:35:24,410 --> 00:35:28,120
What he was
primarily interested in
789
00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:30,330
was black self-empowerment.
790
00:35:30,330 --> 00:35:34,290
In 1972, for him,
that was Richard Nixon.
791
00:35:34,290 --> 00:35:37,080
He discarded
all of the racist stuff,
792
00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:39,540
and he just zeroed in
793
00:35:39,540 --> 00:35:42,370
on that message
of entrepreneurship.
794
00:35:42,370 --> 00:35:44,830
-And so, when Nixon
was espousing --
795
00:35:44,830 --> 00:35:49,200
may not necessarily be following
through with these promises --
796
00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:53,410
Mr. Brown saw it
as a way to free black people.
797
00:35:53,410 --> 00:35:56,450
-In my community,
the ghetto where I'm from,
798
00:35:56,450 --> 00:35:59,580
one of the things
that has taken advantage of us
799
00:35:59,580 --> 00:36:01,250
and that we haven't
taken advantage of it,
800
00:36:01,250 --> 00:36:03,040
was the politics.
801
00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:05,540
-Can you tell us
specifically
802
00:36:05,540 --> 00:36:07,620
what you're doing to deal
with what some consider
803
00:36:07,620 --> 00:36:09,620
to be this distrust
among the blacks?
804
00:36:09,620 --> 00:36:12,200
-My task force on
education pointed out
805
00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:14,540
that I was not considered --
806
00:36:14,540 --> 00:36:17,370
I think the words
they used -- as a friend
807
00:36:17,370 --> 00:36:22,500
by many of our black citizens
in America.
808
00:36:24,620 --> 00:36:26,750
-Well, I'm endorsing
President Nixon
809
00:36:26,750 --> 00:36:29,290
because I believe
the future of the country
810
00:36:29,290 --> 00:36:31,870
lies with Mr. Nixon.
811
00:36:31,870 --> 00:36:34,200
Some of the things he's done
have been very close
812
00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:36,370
to my heart
as a minority, as a black man.
813
00:36:36,370 --> 00:36:38,620
It's happening
in private black colleges
814
00:36:38,620 --> 00:36:41,410
so we can maintain our culture
as well as get an education.
815
00:36:41,410 --> 00:36:43,000
He's the man for the job.
816
00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,950
-♪ Like a dull knife
817
00:36:44,950 --> 00:36:47,700
♪ Just ain't cuttin'
818
00:36:47,700 --> 00:36:50,120
♪ Just talking loud
819
00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:51,450
♪ And saying nothing
820
00:36:51,450 --> 00:36:54,870
-James Brown was going
with the top dog.
821
00:36:54,870 --> 00:36:57,330
-He wasn't the only one.
Sammy Davis did the same thing.
822
00:36:57,330 --> 00:36:59,620
There were a lot of brothers
who thought that
823
00:36:59,620 --> 00:37:02,660
once you get
to a certain bracket,
824
00:37:02,660 --> 00:37:06,370
that you can be a part of this
party, the Republican Party.
825
00:37:06,370 --> 00:37:09,950
-When James Brown
cosigned Nixon,
826
00:37:09,950 --> 00:37:12,500
my parents went crazy.
827
00:37:12,500 --> 00:37:15,370
Like, "How could you?
How could you?"
828
00:37:15,370 --> 00:37:15,450
I don't know
what his thinking was.
829
00:37:16,370 --> 00:37:17,500
I don't know
what his thinking was.
830
00:37:17,790 --> 00:37:19,830
Like, I was talking to
a gentleman the other day.
831
00:37:19,830 --> 00:37:21,870
He said, "Well, you know,
saying these kind of things,
832
00:37:21,870 --> 00:37:23,330
you'd be called a tom."
833
00:37:23,330 --> 00:37:25,330
I'm an American,
so I've got to think patriotic.
834
00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:31,750
-Me, you, your friend,
835
00:37:31,750 --> 00:37:34,120
your mother, your dad,
836
00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:35,370
President of the United States.
837
00:37:35,370 --> 00:37:40,500
Nobody
is as great as the country.
838
00:37:40,500 --> 00:37:43,250
♪ Hey, country,
you didn't say what you mean ♪
839
00:37:43,250 --> 00:37:47,750
♪ You just changed, a brand new,
funky president ♪
840
00:37:47,750 --> 00:37:49,500
-You've been called to
the White House
841
00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:51,750
and you've been before many,
many leaders
842
00:37:51,750 --> 00:37:53,370
throughout the country.
843
00:37:53,370 --> 00:37:55,700
Do you feel that whites,
844
00:37:55,700 --> 00:37:59,200
basically, have
accepted you?
845
00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,700
-I don't like
the word "accept", you know?
846
00:38:01,700 --> 00:38:03,500
You're a beautiful
young man,
847
00:38:03,500 --> 00:38:05,250
but I think you're
interviewing me a little wrong.
848
00:38:05,250 --> 00:38:06,540
-How's that, sir?
849
00:38:06,540 --> 00:38:08,540
-I don't think
you understand me.
850
00:38:08,540 --> 00:38:11,580
Number one, I'm not trying
to prove nothing to the whites,
851
00:38:11,580 --> 00:38:13,910
that I can be a head (bleep).
852
00:38:13,910 --> 00:38:15,540
See, that's not my bag.
853
00:38:15,540 --> 00:38:18,500
-♪ And this is what
you rap to 'em ♪
854
00:38:18,500 --> 00:38:20,410
♪ I mean, come on,
like you should ♪
855
00:38:20,410 --> 00:38:21,870
♪ Come on with you,
come on ♪
856
00:38:21,870 --> 00:38:24,120
-♪ Yeah
857
00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:27,620
-He was very clear about his
place in the context of history
858
00:38:27,620 --> 00:38:31,370
and very clear about being
connected to the people.
859
00:38:31,370 --> 00:38:33,410
One of the things
that you don't hear associated
860
00:38:33,410 --> 00:38:36,410
with James Brown is clarity.
861
00:38:36,410 --> 00:38:38,250
People listen to that voice,
862
00:38:38,250 --> 00:38:39,540
and when they think
of James Brown,
863
00:38:39,540 --> 00:38:41,620
they think blurry,
hard to understand,
864
00:38:41,620 --> 00:38:46,200
kind of, you know,
"inarticulate", if you will.
865
00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:50,160
He was clear, man.
Very clear.
866
00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:51,700
-There's been so many negroes
867
00:38:51,700 --> 00:38:53,790
that sold
the black people out.
868
00:38:56,370 --> 00:38:57,950
I'm saying --
This is what I mean.
869
00:38:57,950 --> 00:39:00,160
You know, just like I said it.
870
00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:03,040
[ Cheers and applause ]
871
00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:05,200
♪ Funky, down
872
00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:07,450
-He and Nixon had talked.
873
00:39:07,450 --> 00:39:09,040
A lot of promises were made.
874
00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:12,290
A lot of things were said
that didn't never happen.
875
00:39:12,290 --> 00:39:15,330
-And did he really think
that Richard Nixon
876
00:39:15,330 --> 00:39:17,290
or some of these other people
were going to do what they said?
877
00:39:17,290 --> 00:39:20,250
Probably. Did they?
No. Absolutely not.
878
00:39:20,250 --> 00:39:22,000
They were using him for votes.
879
00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:23,830
It's obvious to us now,
880
00:39:23,830 --> 00:39:26,540
but when you really think
you can make a difference
881
00:39:26,540 --> 00:39:28,540
for your community
by talking to people
882
00:39:28,540 --> 00:39:30,660
that can make a difference,
883
00:39:30,660 --> 00:39:33,250
that's what his mindset was on.
884
00:39:33,250 --> 00:39:36,910
-Was endorsing Richard Nixon
during that time
885
00:39:36,910 --> 00:39:39,370
equivalent to selling
your community out?
886
00:39:39,370 --> 00:39:40,870
Absolutely. It was.
887
00:39:40,870 --> 00:39:43,620
-♪ It ain't no funky job
to be found ♪
888
00:39:43,620 --> 00:39:45,370
-Well, I think that
him endorsing Nixon
889
00:39:45,370 --> 00:39:46,910
was really --
890
00:39:46,910 --> 00:39:48,540
you know, you don't know
what agreement they had.
891
00:39:48,540 --> 00:39:52,080
You can say, "Okay, well,
I'll endorse you for this
892
00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:53,750
if you're going
to give me that."
893
00:39:53,750 --> 00:39:55,870
It's always been that way
in politics and music.
894
00:39:55,870 --> 00:39:57,700
You know,
to this day, it's that way.
895
00:39:57,700 --> 00:40:00,540
You have to figure out,
"Hey, how can I get in there,
896
00:40:00,540 --> 00:40:02,660
and then how can I get
what I need done?"
897
00:40:02,660 --> 00:40:04,450
-♪ Tell him, godfather
898
00:40:04,450 --> 00:40:06,080
♪ Hey, oh
899
00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:07,580
♪ Whooo
900
00:40:07,580 --> 00:40:09,540
-Now, Nixon was
telling him one thing,
901
00:40:09,540 --> 00:40:11,290
but when it was time to do
902
00:40:11,290 --> 00:40:13,370
what he supposed to do,
903
00:40:13,370 --> 00:40:15,620
none of that was mentioned.
904
00:40:15,620 --> 00:40:17,950
-James Brown endorsing Nixon
905
00:40:17,950 --> 00:40:21,330
was really more so
to push the black agenda,
906
00:40:21,330 --> 00:40:24,580
but unfortunately, it backfired
and it cost him record sales
907
00:40:24,580 --> 00:40:26,200
and, you know, just cost him,
908
00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:28,080
you know, just fandom
in many cases,
909
00:40:28,080 --> 00:40:31,540
and his hits really stopped
coming around that time.
910
00:40:31,540 --> 00:40:33,540
-Everything tanked.
911
00:40:33,540 --> 00:40:37,200
You know, people were like,
"Have you lost your mind?"
912
00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:39,370
-And what's important
for us to do
913
00:40:39,370 --> 00:40:41,870
as individuals who are
part of community,
914
00:40:41,870 --> 00:40:44,580
is you hold your artists
accountable.
915
00:40:44,580 --> 00:40:46,370
-They had picketed him
at the Apollo,
916
00:40:46,370 --> 00:40:48,950
-Mr. Brown's endorsement
of Richard Nixon --
917
00:40:48,950 --> 00:40:50,540
it was a misstep.
918
00:40:50,540 --> 00:40:53,040
-When the going got rough,
a lot of people backed up
919
00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:54,200
and walked away from me.
920
00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:56,040
-♪ Hey, listen to the man
921
00:40:56,040 --> 00:40:57,450
♪ Whoo
922
00:40:57,450 --> 00:40:59,750
-♪ I need to be the mayor
923
00:40:59,750 --> 00:41:03,580
♪ So I can
change the things around here ♪
924
00:41:03,580 --> 00:41:07,200
-He wrote the song "Papa
Don't Take No Mess". I lived it.
925
00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:08,620
-James Brown was never taught
926
00:41:08,620 --> 00:41:11,660
how to be a son, a father,
or a husband.
927
00:41:11,660 --> 00:41:15,370
He didn't have those examples
to fall back on.
928
00:41:15,370 --> 00:41:17,870
-The violence --
I remember it clear as day.
929
00:41:17,870 --> 00:41:21,080
The last time I ever
saw him abuse my mom --
930
00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:22,540
I just remember going over there
931
00:41:22,540 --> 00:41:25,580
and trying to pull him
off of her,
932
00:41:25,580 --> 00:41:29,540
and the look that
he gave me was like...
933
00:41:29,540 --> 00:41:31,370
-I don't want
to bad-mouth Adrienne,
934
00:41:31,370 --> 00:41:34,200
but things started to get crazy
about the time she came around.
935
00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:35,370
-I was there when they met.
936
00:41:35,370 --> 00:41:36,870
He said, "Reverend,
get her number."
937
00:41:36,870 --> 00:41:39,040
-That was the beginning
of a different Mr. Brown.
938
00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:40,580
-Almost every week,
939
00:41:40,580 --> 00:41:42,660
something was happening
to put them in the news.
940
00:41:42,660 --> 00:41:44,450
-I mean, he got
into some drug problems,
941
00:41:44,450 --> 00:41:46,370
I think also.
942
00:41:46,370 --> 00:41:48,620
Didn't we all?
943
00:41:48,620 --> 00:41:50,370
-He used to get high
in what he called "gorilla".
944
00:41:50,370 --> 00:41:52,580
Gorilla is a version of PCP.
945
00:41:52,580 --> 00:41:53,950
-They got into those drugs
946
00:41:53,950 --> 00:41:55,620
and it would turn them
into something
947
00:41:55,620 --> 00:41:57,500
that they really
shouldn't have been.
948
00:41:57,500 --> 00:41:59,200
-So I'm on the air,
and I get the news
949
00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:02,790
that Mr. Brown was in
a two-state car chase.
950
00:42:02,790 --> 00:42:04,700
It's like, "What is going on?"
951
00:42:04,700 --> 00:42:07,870
-Someone was using my
facilities without my consent.
952
00:42:07,870 --> 00:42:10,120
-He did get his shotgun
out of the pickup,
953
00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:11,870
but he did not fire it.
954
00:42:11,870 --> 00:42:15,540
-Four white policemen came up
and shot the truck up
955
00:42:15,540 --> 00:42:17,700
and almost shot
the black deputy sheriff.
956
00:42:17,700 --> 00:42:19,410
I wasn't afraid of them.
957
00:42:19,410 --> 00:42:22,160
-If James Brown was not
who he was,
958
00:42:22,160 --> 00:42:24,000
was not of the race
he is,
959
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:26,000
there's no question
that he would not have been
960
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:27,410
given this sentence.
961
00:42:27,410 --> 00:42:29,040
-He was public enemy number one.
962
00:42:29,040 --> 00:42:32,790
-I'm doing the time,
and somebody else did the crime.
73564
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